Improvement in ships  fenders



intell `0%ttutt WILLIAM D. ROBINSONVOFBUFFALO, NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 94,242, dated August 3l, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHIPS' rnNDnRs.

` The `Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the Eame- To all whon it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. ROBINSON, of

y vBuialo, in the county of Erie, and State of New York, t have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fenders for Vessels and I do hereby Ydeclare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specication, in which- Figure l is a side elevation, and

Figure 2, an edge view, both showing the fender suspended. i

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both gures.

My invention consists in providing a spring-fender, for use by vessels, Steamers, canal-boats, 86e., to be hereinafter fully described.

In the drawingsy A A' represent the two sides of the fender, p referably made of wood, of suitable length, thickness, and width, which are securely fastened together at the two ends,-rst, however, inserting blocks a a', as clearly shown in iig. 2, and thus leaving a space, b, between the side pieces A A'.

The inner edge ofthe upper block (t is made rounding, and slightly grooved, toadmit -t-he holdingrope B, by which the fender is suspended from the Vessels sides,

The object of forming these fenders as above de# scribed, is, to allow their springing when struck or pressed, and thus resist or lessen the shock when two `vessels come together, or the boat comes to the pieror dock, or alongside another vessel, and thus prevent damage to either, as the fenders usually employed are apt to break or to injure-theF boat, or the jar seriously damage the vessel, or the Inachinery,ii` a steamer.

By the use of my spring-fenders, the shock will be received on the dat side, which will .force it intoethe space b, toward` the other side, and when the strain is removed, it will at once spring back, and thus will obviate greatly, if not altogether, the disagreeable andA damaging jar and concussion of a collision with either vessels or docks. l

To further aid in producing this springy effect, and to prevent the side of the fender being forced in too far, I intend to employ, if found desirable, one or more pieces of v rubber, or,- its equivalent, c c c, and place them tightly betweenlthe side pieces A A', as clearly shown in iig. 2.

The advantages of this construction are too plainly discernible to* need enlarging on. Besides their great and unquestionable usefulness, and supplying a want 'A A and end blocks ay a, with the longitudinal space b between the sides, the whole arranged and operatingl as herein set-forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two'snbscribing witnesses.

W. D. ROBINSON.

W'i'tnesses:

J. R. DRAKE, vC. N. WooDwARn. 

